Page 8 of Psychological War

“I’m fine,” I finally answered as I handed her the last dish. Drying my hands I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. Aziza took her sweet time drying the last one before taking the plate over to the cabinet and placing it inside.

“You didn’t ask how I am, which is completely rude by the way. But I’m good, great, actually. I got a call this morning, New York is looking for a new role, the lead role.” Aziza was a dancer, an amazing dancer at that. Ever since she was nine, she danced religiously, either ballet or hip-hop. The way she could move her body made my joints hurt. “It’s forSwan Lake. I guess the composer wants a blonde, apparently.” Aziza smiled over at me.

“That’s great!” Which was true, I’m happy she’s getting this chance. Besides hacking into companies, dance was the other thing she’s amazing at. I could watch her for hours. “I’m actually really happy for you.” I finally smiled at her.

“Thank you,” she said, her southern accent coming out thick. Aziza and I had very thick accents. We grew up in Mississippi, her family's farmhouse right across from my family.

“And now we’ve both talked about how we’re doing, I would really like to know what the point of this conversation is.”

“First, you need to promise me something.”

Grinding my molars, I glared at her. Swallowing the lump I forced the words out, “Promise.”

“I got entangled a few nights ago. I didn't know how accurate it was until I did a lot of digging last night. Which for your infor—”

“Spill it,” I interrupted her.

“I found them,” she finally spoke.

My body tensed. Everything around me faded away as I replayed her words over and over again.

I found them. I found them.

Aziza found them. Four years they were underground, with no way for Aziza to find them. I waited four years, thinking I would never get the chance again. I never voiced or allowed myself to think that they would just get away with it. But somewhere inside I had the sickening feeling it would be true. That they got away.

But she found them.

“Salem…” Aziza's cold hand grabbed my shoulder. Jumping to the side, I hadn’t realized she was trying to get my attention until I felt the coldness of her skin on my own. Her eyes widened at my sudden movements. I felt like a complete asshole now. She was just trying to comfort me, and I was acting like she was a nobody to me.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I whispered my voice rough from the emotions swirling around. I wish I could feel happy that she found the monsters, but I was angry. I was so angry that my hands ached from the tight grip I held them in.

“You don’t need to apologize, Salem.” But I did.

“What information have you found?” I spat out, finding it rather difficult to think about anything besides murdering them. To watch all of their eyes as they took that last breath.

“I haven’t found any sightings of most of them, but Giulio and Leonzo both have been using their accounts from Maine back to Boston. I checked security cameras around the area and found them entering their old penthouse.”

Nodding my head along with her, it took me a moment to realize they were close. They were no longer underground. Which meant I could finally end this, even though it was just two of them right now. I could finally get one step closer to ending them.

“We could be there in a few hours if we leave now,” Aziza said, turning on her heel heading to the foyer where the stairs leading to the second level were.

Letting out a sigh I followed her. As soon as my foot hit the top of stairs, my brain finally caught up to the fact she said we.

“Wait, wait, wait, Aziza!” I called. Stepping into my room I saw that she was already shoving clothes into my suitcase. “Aziza.”

She paid me no mind as she shoved more socks than I should probably have inside. I didn’t know why she thought she was coming with me, but she definitely is not.

“Aziza!” I snapped. She dropped the clothes in her hand and turned slowly facing me. “There’s no one here, I’m going alone,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest, refusing to budge on this.

Rolling her eyes she went back to packing my clothes like I hadn’t just said something. “Honey, I’m going with you. It’ll be easier, plus I’ll end up going to New York anyway.”

“Azi—”

“No,” she said, cutting me off.

“Don’t get an attitude with me,” I growl. “Aziza, I’m going to Boston to murder the men who hurt my family! I’m going to kill them all, you understand that right. How am I supposed to go after them and look after you.” None of it came out a question. She may act like she’s not bothered by me murdering people in cold blood. But no one in the right mind could be okay with it.

I could accept I wasn’t right in the head anymore. Not after what they did to them, not after what I witnessed. But Aziza, she was innocent in all this. Sure she tracked them down, hacked into their accounts. She stayed back, she was safe here. No one could touch her if she stayed right here.